news releases

Bellagio the ferret loves being in costume and, true to his Las Vegas roots, he's chosen to impersonate Elvis this Halloween. Gainer is an English Labrador who idolizes Flavor-Flav and fights off female poodles in his neighborhood when dressed like his hero. Kato the cat looks like Brad Pitt and wears sunglasses to ward off the Paparazzi.

To celebrate Howl-O-Ween, PETCO.com has asked pets across the country to share why they chose their Halloween costumes. Pets are encouraged to choose one of five categories, Best Celebrity Lookalike, Best Small Animal, Funniest Costume, Pet Parent Look-Alike and Spookiest Cat, and enter their story and photo online to compete to win over $1,000 in prizes.

"We wanted to hear it from the dog's and cat's mouth, so to speak," said John Lazarchic, Vice President of E-Commerce for PETCO.com. "For the first time we're asking pet parents to get into the minds of their pets and express how their animals might feel about the Halloween costumes they are wearing." The site asks pets if their pet parents know they are entering the contest and whether or not they had a hand in choosing their outfits. "It's all in good fun and we've really enjoyed the creativity we've seen in the entries."

To enter for a chance to win, pets and their parents can go to www.petco.com/contest. Visitors to the site may vote on their favorite entries through October 27, 2009. Winners will be announced on petco.com October 30, 2009. The top five contestants in each category will win a bag of Hills® Science Diet® New Simple Essentials™ Treats. Each category winner will receive a $200 PETCO.com gift certificate.

In addition to the PETCO.com online contest, PETCO's 8th Annual Howl-O-Ween Spooky, Kooky Costume Party and Photo Spook-tacular will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 at 2:00 p.m., at all of PETCO's nearly 1,000 stores nationwide. More than 16,600 pets in creative costumes across the country participated in last year's event. Dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, iguanas, fish -- pets of all kind are welcome to participate.

"This event goes beyond PETCO providing the costumes and treats that get our customers into the spirit of the season," said PETCO Chief Marketing Officer Elisabeth Charles. "Our annual in-store Halloween Costume Party is another great way we bring pets and people together to share experiences which celebrate the human-animal bond."

Pet parents can dress up with their four-legged friends in scary, spooky or kooky costumes, or just come to watch the fun. Registration begins at 1 p.m., as does the Photo Spook-tacular where pet parents can get a framed picture of themselves with their costumed companion for $3.95, plus tax (while supplies last). Costumes will be judged based on creativity, originality, attention to detail, and coordination between pet and pet parent costumes. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners at each store and all participants get a free one pound bag of Hills® Science Diet® New Simple Essentials™ Treats (while supplies last).

Hills® Science Diet® is the official sponsor of both the online and in-store contests. For more details or to pick out costumes, treats and toys for your pet, visit any PETCO store or log on to PETCO.com/halloween. To find a PETCO location near you, visit PETCO.com/locator. For those unable to make it to their local PETCO for the festivities, join the conversation and fun on PETCO's Facebook page at facebook.com/petco where you can post photos and videos of your creepy canine, frightening feline or other spooky critter.

About PETCO

PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 950 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at PETCO.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $50 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the foundation, we work with and support more than 6,200 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

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SOURCE: PETCO